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Zelfo® selected as "Bio-material of the year 2011"

For the fourth time, the nova-Institute (Huerth, Germany) awarded the "Biomaterial of the Year 2011” at the International Congress on Bio-based Plastics and Composites in Cologne on March 15th 2011. As in the previous year, the company Coperion GmbH (Stuttgart), a leading manufacturer of twin screw extruders, sponsored the Innovation Award.
Before the congress, the five most interesting biomaterials had been nominated by an expert jury out of 14 applications. These ones were presented at the conference in front of an audience of 150 participants. The clear winner of the voting was the Biomaterial Zelfo®, which consists of specially treated micro-and nano-fibrillated cellulose fibers (MFC / NFC) and does not require any binder. The material can be used for a variety of applications such as musical instruments, furniture and, above all, boards. Producer is the German company OMODO® GmbH.
Selected for the second place was the material EcoCradleTM produced by the U.S. company Ecovative Design LLC, a foam-like material whose structure is formed by a fungus mycelium.
The 3rd place received a new family of starch polymers (GAÏALENE®) from the French company Roquette. From this material mainly durable packaging for food and cleaning products are produced.
All nominated and winning materials are available on the market since 2010 - a prerequisite for the award.

Report on Bio-based Plastics and Composites - free download!

Get some insights on Bio-based Plastics and Composites with the latest issue of our Biowerkstoff-Report (PDF)!

At the 4th Biowerkstoff-Kongress - International Congress on Bio-based Plastics and Composites, the latest material and product developments from leading suppliers and developers throughout the world will be presented and discussed. The applications will include those from the automotive industry, civil engineering, consumer goods and the packaging industry.

What are innovative biomaterials?

Biomaterials are based on the direct use, or the biotechnological modification, of starch, sugar, plant oil, cellulose/natural fibres as well as special biomolecules such as rubber or lignin. All of them diversify the raw material base, create more independence from the price rises of crude oil and usually have a significantly better CO2-balance than conventional materials. Basically almost all fossil-based materials can be substituted by biomaterials. This group of biomaterials includes bio-based plastics, biodegradable ones as well as durables, Wood-Polymer-Composites (WPC), natural fibre reinforced plastics and natural rubber.